The best college football rivalries on Thanksgiving weekend

Nov. 21, 2012
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Notre Dame can earn a spot in the national championship game with a win. This is the first time since 1984 that the team ranked No.1 in the preseason - USC - has lost four games. USC QB Matt Barkley (pictured) will not play. / Matt Cashore, US Presswire

by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

It's a college football tradition: Historic, proximity-based rivalries are always renewed over Thanksgiving weekend, beginning on Thursday and extending deep into Saturday.

This year, however, the tradition is lacking in, well, tradition. For the second consecutive season, conference expansion has robbed college football of two heated rivalry games. No longer will Texas meet Texas A&M, and West Virginia's move to the Big 12 spelled the end of the Backyard Brawl against Pittsburgh.

Texas landed on its feet with a "new" Thanksgiving rival - though it's not the same, of course. Rather than take on the Aggies, the Longhorns will host TCU on Thanksgiving night.

Going from familiarity to complete unfamiliarity, West Virginia will be at Iowa State on Friday, the first time the teams have met.

That's the bad news. The good news is the wide majority of rivalry games remain intact, to be consumed along with the typical Thanksgiving fare over one of the best weekends of the season.

Here's what you can expect Friday and Saturday (times Eastern):

Friday:

Nebraska at Iowa | Noon, ABC

Nebraska leads series 27-12-3

Last year: Nebraska 20, Iowa 7

When part of the Big 12, Nebraska capped its season against Colorado. As part of the Big Ten, the Cornhuskers take on a local rival in Iowa. Nebraska has won each of the last four meetings, dating to 1982.

LSU at Arkansas | 2:30 p.m., CBS

LSU leads 35-20-2

Last year: LSU 41, Arkansas 17

The Razorbacks have won three of the last five games against the Tigers, including a triple-overtime triumph in Baton Rouge in 2007. That loss didn't stop LSU from capturing its one national championship under coach Les Miles, however.

Utah at Colorado | 3 p.m., FX

Colorado leads 31-24-3

Last year: Colorado 17, Utah 14

After nearly a half-century hiatus, Utah and Colorado met in 2011 as members of the Pac-12. Surprisingly, the Buffaloes left Salt Lake City with a 17-14 win.

Washington at Washington State | 3:30 p.m., Fox

Washington leads 67-31-6

Last year: Washington 38, Washington State 21

The Apple Cup has seen its ups (games that decided a Rose Bowl berth) and its downs (games that decided if a team ended the season winless). While the Huskies have won three in a row, the Cougars hope coach Mike Leach can lend some balance to the rivalry.

Arizona State at Arizona | 10 p.m., ESPN

Arizona leads 47-37-1

Last year: Arizona 31, Arizona State 27

This year's battle for the Territorial Cup will be the first for Arizona's Rich Rodriguez and Arizona State's Todd Graham. Last fall, the Wildcats' third win against the Sun Devils in four years proved to be the death knell for Dennis Erickson's ASU run.

Saturday | Virginia at Virginia Tech | Noon, ESPNU

Virginia Tech leads 51-37-5

Last year: Virginia Tech 38, Virginia 0

The Commonwealth Cup wasn't always this lopsided. But the Hokies have won eight in a row and 12 of 13 since 1999. Is Mike London catching up with Frank Beamer? Not by this statistic: Virginia Tech has outscored Virginia 75-7 over the last two years.

Michigan at Ohio State | Noon, ABC

Michigan leads 58-44-6

Last year: Michigan 40, Ohio State 34

Michigan leads the all-time series, but that's helped by a 21-3-2 mark from 1897 to 1927. While the Wolverines snapped a long and painful losing streak in last year's 40-34 win, the Buckeyes have had Michigan's number over the last decade-plus. Win or lose, this will be the season finale for the Buckeyes because of NCAA penalties. They could, however, still win a piece of the national championship.

Illinois at Northwestern | Noon, Big Ten Network

Illinois leads 54-46-5

Last year: Illinois 38, Northwestern 35

Like most good rivalries, the antipathy between Illinois and Northwestern spreads off the field, where each school stakes claim to housing the state's flagship football program. For at least 2012, there's no competition: Northwestern carries the flag and should take home the Land of Lincoln Trophy for the first time since 2009.

Georgia Tech at Georgia | Noon, ESPN

Georgia leads 62-39-5

Last year: Georgia 31, Georgia Tech 17

Georgia coach Mark Richt does many things well, but one thing he does better than others: beat Georgia Tech. Richt's Bulldogs are 10-1 against the Yellow Jackets, losing 45-42 in 2008. Even with the Southeastern Conference East Division sealed, don't look for the Bulldogs to slow down against a fierce in-state rival.

Indiana at Purdue | Noon, Big Ten Network

Purdue leads 71-37-6

Last year: Purdue 33, Indiana 25

The winner of this game gets to take home bragging rights and the Old Oaken Bucket. The rivalry is never short on points: The winner has scored at least 33 points in six of the last eight meetings.

Oregon at Oregon State | 3 p.m, Pac-12 Network

Oregon leads 59-46-10

Last year: Oregon 49, Oregon State 21

The Civil War has come a long way from 1983, when the Ducks and Beavers stumbled and bumbled through a 0-0 tie. Oregon has won four in a row in the series; last year's 49-21 victory was its third since 2005 by 27 or more points.

Auburn at Alabama | 3:30 p.m., CBS

Alabama leads 41-34-1

Last year: Alabama 42, Auburn 14

The Iron Bowl has seen more than its fair share of memorable moments - Tiffin's kick, Bo going over the top, to name two - but for Auburn fans, this year's meeting should be too painful to watch. Auburn is terrible; Alabama has plenty to play for.

Troy at Middle Tennessee State | 3:30 p.m.

Middle Tennessee State leads 11-8

Last year: Troy 38, Middle Tennessee State 35

If for no other reason, you can include this among more famous rivalries for its name alone: The Battle for the Palladium. So what is (or was) the Palladium? According to Greek mythology, it was a wooden statue fallen from the heavens that kept the city of Troy safe from potential invaders.

Florida at Florida State | 3:30 p.m., ABC

Florida leads 33-21-2

Last year: Florida State 21, Florida 7

After struggling to slow the Gators over Bobby Bowden's final six years with the program, the Seminoles have won the last two in the series. As in 2011, this year's game should be a defensive slugfest.

Oklahoma State at Oklahoma | 3:30 p.m.

Oklahoma leads 81-18-7

Last year: Oklahoma State 44, Oklahoma 10

The Bedlam Bowl lives up to its name - sometimes. Last year's 44-10 win was OSU's first since 2002, when Les Miles was the Cowboys coach. Is the tide turning in OSU's favor? Not if the Sooners have their way.

Southern Mississippi at Memphis | 4:30 p.m.

Southern Mississippi leads 40-21-1

Last year: Southern Mississippi 44, Memphis 7

Why is this game called the Black and Blue Bowl? Not because Southern Miss regularly inflicts pain on the woebegone Tigers, but because of each school's primary colors: Southern Miss' black and Memphis' blue.

South Carolina at Clemson | 7 p.m., ESPN

Clemson leads 65-40-4

Last year: South Carolina 34, Clemson 13

This rivalry has taken on a new feel over the last half-decade, thanks to Clemson and South Carolina's mutual move into the championship picture. Steve Spurrier is 3-0 against Dabo Swinney, with each win by 17 or more points.

Mississippi State at Mississippi | 7 p.m., ESPNU

Mississippi leads 60-42-6

Last year: Mississippi State 31, Mississippi 3

"That school up north," as Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen often refers to Ole Miss, has reversed its fortunes under first-year coach Hugh Freeze. As was the case for Mullen and MSU in 2009, the Rebels hope an Egg Bowl win serves as a launching pad to bigger and better things in 2013 and beyond.

Notre Dame at Southern California | 8 p.m., ABC

Notre Dame leads 43-34-5

Last year: USC 31, Notre Dame 17

Notre Dame can earn a spot in the national championship game with a win. This is the first time since 1984 that the team ranked No.1 in the preseason - USC - has lost four games. The stakes will remain high for the Irish. That takes an already historic rivalry to another level, doesn't it?